[U]nlike some remarkably bright people President [Henry B.] Eyring had known, President Oaks was wide open to suggestions from others, a characteristic Brother Eyring came to admire, especially as the two served together in the Quorum of the Twelve. "Elder Oaks would listen carefully to others, thoughtfully consider what they said, and change his mind if he felt their views were better than his."

Twice during their many years in the quorum together, Elder Eyring disagreed with Elder Oaks, who was his senior, and after the discussion, the quorum voted in favor of Elder Eyring's position. Both times, he recalled, Elder Oaks approached him afterward and gently said, "Thank you very much. You helped me see it." "He would not remember, probably," President Eyring said in 2019, after they had been serving nearly two years together in the First Presidency. "It's probably just natural to him. But to me, it was just stunning, because I like to win arguments. Most people do. But it was never an argument with him. It's a different kind of thing. He didn't have to win an argument. He'd try to find a truth."

And it wasn't just when they were in the Twelve together. "He's that way now," President Eyring said. "He'll turn to me as if my opinion mattered. I just think it's incredible." After working in the First Presidency with them, President Eyring considered President Oaks and President Nelson to be "the most wonderful persons to work with that I've ever worked with in the Church." In fact, he considered the president and his first counselor to be like twins, two men who are dear friends, were called at the same time, and are very much alike. President Eyring had watched them for decades as "they've worked together so well, so long, side by side."

Elder Ulisses Soares … echoed what President Eyring said about President Oaks' willingness to listen to others. "He's a great listener, and I admire him. I love him for that," Elder Soares said. "He never comes with a solution into a conversation. He always comes willing to learn, to listen, and then he makes conclusions. And I think that's the right way the Lord gives revelation and inspiration to his servants. We have to learn things first. We have to listen. And so he's a perfect example of that."

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepares us for whatever life brings. Faith prepares us to deal with life's opportunities—to take advantage of those we receive and to persist through the disappointment of those we lose. In the exercise of that faith, we should commit ourselves to the priorities and standards we will follow on matters we do not control, and we should persist in those commitments whatever happens to us because of the agency of others or the timing of the Lord. Faith in Jesus Christ and a firm commitment to put the Lord first in our lives and to keep His commandments will bring us direction and peace and a constancy to our lives.

Personal disappointments should never keep us from the doctrine of Christ, who taught us to serve, not to be served. With this in mind, another member described the focus of his Church attendance: "Years ago, I changed my attitude about going to church. No longer do I go to church for my sake, but to think of others. I make a point of saying hello to people who sit alone, to welcome visitors, … to volunteer for an assignment. …In short, I go to church each week with the intent of being active, not passive, and making a positive difference in people's lives."